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Do you have any comments on this article, or issues you would like to discuss, which are related to this article? This is the place to post them!
Article: Nobel peace Prize 2006
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Personally, I'm so happy Bono didn't win it! Yunus seems like an extremely worthy winner, having actually helped many millions to better their lives.
Too bad the list of 199 nominees is secret, would have been really interesting to see the what strange people get nominated. Both Stalin and Hitler got nominated the 40's!
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What is left unsaid about this worthy recognition is the way in which the threats came in from those who felt that this system undermined their ability to continue extorting huge amounts of money from the peasantry. Threats against life and limb towards anyone suspected of having even the most tenuous connection with the scheme.
"Loan sharks" operate with impunity in the region and their practices have played a major part in the process of impoverishment of the community as a whole.
The "sharks" are not generally what we would describe as "low life" individuals, but more often already wealthy and "respectable" members of society: Landowners, hereditary title holders, rich merchants etc.
By empowering people at the "grass roots" of society, micro lending has put the brakes on the progess of this economic parasitism.. There's still a long way to go but it is a great start.
It's a lesson that all advocates of unfettered economic activity might well consider carefully; that most individuals will always seek to take profit from every set of circumstances. By fair means or foul.
It takes the eccentrically minded to make a real difference.
And a good heart.:)
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